‘You were quiet—I did all the marching’: research processes involved in hearing the voices of South Asian girls

Abstract

This article provides insights into the outcomes of reflection following two interview approaches used to explore narratives of the lived, individual experiences of South-Asian girls living in West London. In attempting to illuminate and re-present the cultural experiences as told by these girls, the choice of interview approach became critical in allowing the voices to be effectively heard (Rogers, 2005). This article therefore considers how a semi-structured interview approach offered valuable insights into the girls' experiences but became constraining for both researcher and participant in unveiling the complexity and depth of their lives. These constraints emerged through reflection by both participants and researcher. As a result of reflexivity during the research process, the researcher moved towards the use of research conversations during the second phase of the study. Ultimately the study revealed how the girls felt empowered by the opportunity to narrate their individual experiences and tell of their lives. In narrating their reflections on being part of the research, there was a clear recognition that the process facilitated the articulation of new voices and 'multi-voicedness ' (Moen, 2006)

Explorations in knowing: thinking psychosocially about legitimacy

“…Geeta was drawn to the psychosocial through an interest in the embodied self and her narrative study with 12 'successful' South Asian girls (Ludhra and Chappell 2011). The interactional aspects of her fieldwork acted as a catalyst for revisiting 'girlhood ghosts' and entering the 'darker' areas of the psyche (Walkerdine, Melody, and Lucey 2003).…”

“…When Geeta began her study, the routine completion of the university ethics form did not engage her in the 'deeper' psychological difficulties associated with becoming tangled in 'herstory'. But the processes involved made this inevitable (Ludhra 2011;Ludhra and Chappell 2011). At times, resurrecting 'girlhood ghosts' felt painful and emotionally overwhelming, and she felt a desire to 'put a lid' on them.…”

“…Their annual conference provided an innovative platform for experimenting in these areas. Geeta presented there (Ludhra and Chappell 2010;Ludhra 2011Ludhra , 2012 and the group have led her towards literature that opened up her 'sociological imagination' (Wright Mills 1959). Like Bibby (2011), Geeta found herself feeling dissatisfied with theories from educational and sociological literatures alone, as the discursive and structural elements restricted her explanations of experience (Frosh 2001).…”

“…Both Geeta and Anne came together before the group formed, through their methodological connectedness in narrative research. They started to write together and provided mutual moral and psychological support (Ludhra and Chappell 2011). These and many others have provided an enhanced sense of legitimacy about writing about those more ethically challenging areas of research (Rogers and Ludhra 2011).…”

Ciudades de papel. Etnografia militante sobre la cultura de participación juvenil en la Casa de Joventut La Maranya

“…En mi caso, para no alterar los sucesos reales lo más sincero es que forme parte del medio como voluntaria ya que lo que alteraría los procesos naturales que se dan en el contexto sería actuar como persona ajena al grupo con el único objetivo de observar y estudiar lo que sucede. Debemos matizar, que trabajar a partir de las voces de las participantes no obvia la perspectiva de la investigadora, de hecho es una de todas esas voces que no puede desligarse de la interacción con el medio (Ludhra y Chappel, 2011). Así mismo, asumo la importancia que tiene la implicación de la investigadora como aspecto fundamental de análisis.…”